University of Notre Dame Press Rethinking the Purpose of Business: Interdisciplinary Essays from the Catholic Social Tradition

Product Description This volume challenges reigning shareholder and stakeholder management theories using philosophical and theological dimensions of the Catholic tradition. The contributors, including management theorists, moral theologians, economists, ethicists and attorneys, debate complicated issues such as the ethics of profit seeking, equity and efficiency in the firm, the shareholder value principle, social ethics of corporate management, the principle of subsidiarity and modern contract theory. While contributors share a respect for the power of markets, they also assign value to community, common goods and personal virtue. Essays combine organizational and management theory with philosophical and theological accounts of human purpose. A central argument of this collection is that the tradition of Catholic social thought provides principles that enable fruitful conversations across disciplines regarding the purpose of business and economic activity. Review An earnest collection of essays on what Catholic social teaching has to say about business and corporations and our role in them.--Commonweal This is a worthwhile book and its contents ought to cause a more intense discussion of Catholic social doctrine among Catholics and others."--New Oxford Review "...a selection of impressive and insightful essays by erudite authors concerning business management theories that remain in harmony with social traditions of Catholicism...Rethinking the Purpose of Business is thoughtful and thought-provoking reading which is especially commended to anyone seeking to balance the requirements of faith with the demands of commerce."--The Midwest Book Review, "At this time in America's history, when business scandals of unimaginable proportions make regular headlines, a volume like this can serve as a starting point for changing the way business is taught in our colleges and universities."--Research News and Opportunities in Science and Theology "The main benefit of this book is that it shows how widespread the interest is among scholars and businesspeople to use the categories of Catholic social thought to understand business activity."--Markets & Morality About the Author S. A. CORTRIGHT is associate professor of philosophy and tutor, Integral Curriculum of Liberal Arts, Saint Mary's College of California, where he also serves as Director of the John F. Henning Institute. MICHAEL J. NAUGHTON is Director of the John A. Ryan Institute for Catholic Social Thought at the Center for Catholic Studies, St. Thomas University, St. Paul, Minnesota, as well as associate professor with joint appointments in the Department of Theology and the Graduate School of Business.